Former heavyweight champion Patterson dies at 71 - Redorbit Former heavyweight champion Patterson dies at 71 by Sam Savage NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former world heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Patterson, who became the youngest boxer to gain the title when he knocked out Archie Moore in 1956 at the age of 21, died on Thursday. He was 71. Patterson, who had suffered from Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer, died at his home in New Paltz, New York. Patterson, who was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991, was small for a heavyweight and used a peek-a-boo style with his gloves held high in front of his face, using his quickness to defeat heftier opponents. He had three famed clashes with Sweden's Ingemar Johansson in a long career that stretched from his first great professional success against Moore through bouts against Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali. "Of all the men I fought, Sonny Liston was the scariest, George Foreman was the most powerful, Floyd Patterson was the most skilled as a boxer," Ali once said. New York Gov.

George Pataki saluted Patterson, who was born in Waco, North Carolina, and raised in New York City's borough of Brooklyn. "Floyd Patterson was a world champion athlete and an inspiration to many Americans," Pataki said in a statement. "From his signature style in the ring to his support for amateur athletics later in life, Floyd Patterson was truly the "gentleman of boxing." After an amateur career that included Olympic gold as a middleweight in 1952, Patterson turned professional. On November 30, 1956, he claimed the world heavyweight title vacated by the retirement of Rocky Marciano by knocking out Moore in the fifth round. Patterson was 21 at the time, making him the youngest heavyweight champion until 20-year-old Mike Tyson beat Trevor Berbick for the title in 1986. Patterson and Tyson were both trained by Cus D'Amato. Following four title defenses, Patterson lost the crown in 1959 when he was knocked down seven times in the third round. losing to Sweden's Johansson in New York.

One year later, Patterson became the first heavyweight champion to regain the crown when he returned to the Polo Grounds to knock out Johansson in the fifth round. Patterson won a third bout against Johansson in 1961, stopping the big Swede in the sixth round. He made one more successful defense before losing the title to fellow-American Liston by a first-round knockout in 1962. Patterson fought three more times for the heavyweight title. He was knocked out again in the first round by Liston in 1963, was stopped after a 12-round beating by Muhammad Ali in 1965, and lost a 15-round decision to Jimmy Ellis in 1968. Ali carried a grudge into the 1965 bout against Patterson. He was angry that Patterson refused to call him Muhammad Ali, and continued to refer to him by his birth name, Cassius Clay. Instead of finishing him off in the one-sided fight, Ali mocked and punished Patterson before stopping him in the 12th. Patterson retired in 1972 at age 37 with a professional record of 55-8-1.

He later served a stint as New York state athletic commissioner. Patterson once revealed his motivation when he said: "The fighter loses more than his pride in the fight he loses part of his future. He's a step closer to the slum he came from." Boxing - 2 | Britannica.com Boxing sport, both amateur and professional, involving attack and defense with the fists. Displaying 1 - 100 of 141 results Ali, Muhammad American professional boxer and social activist. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended this title 19 times. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., grew up in the American South... Arguello, Alexis Nicaraguan professional boxer who was world featherweight, junior lightweight, and lightweight champion between 1974 and 1982. Arguello, who became a professional fighter in 1968, fought only in his homeland until 1974, when he went to Panama to seek... Armstrong, Henry American boxer, the only professional boxer to hold world championship titles in three weight divisions simultaneously.

Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932. Early in his career he boxed under the name Melody Jackson. He first won the featherweight... Attell, Abe American professional boxer, undisputed world featherweight champion from 1906 through 1912. Attell was from a poor Jewish family and began his boxing career at 15 as a means of supplementing the family’s income. In his first 32 bouts he was victorious... Baer, Max American boxer who won the world heavyweight championship by knocking out Primo Carnera in 11 rounds in New York City on June 14, 1934. He lost the title to James J. Braddock on a 15-round decision at Long Island City, New York, on June 13, 1935. Perhaps... Basilio, Carmen American professional boxer, world welterweight and middleweight champion. After serving in the Marine Corps, Basilio became a professional boxer in 1948. Only in the sixth year of his professional career did he finally receive an opportunity to fight...

Bendigo English bare-knuckle boxer who became a Methodist evangelist and who is one of the few athletes whose name is borne by a city—Bendigo in Victoria, Australia. His nickname apparently is a corruption of the Old Testament name Abednego. Thompson was one... Benvenuti, Nino Italian professional boxer, Olympic welterweight and world middleweight champion. Benvenuti won the Olympic welterweight title in 1960. He turned professional the following year and won his first 65 matches and the Italian middleweight championship.... Berbick, Trevor Jamaican-born Canadian boxer who defeated Muhammad Ali on Dec. 12, 1981, in a unanimous decision in a fight that would end Ali’s career. In 1986 Berbick won the World Boxing Council heavyweight title in a decision over Pinklon Thomas only to lose it... Bivins, Jimmy American boxerwho defeated numerous future boxing champions in the ring—including Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore —but he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title. Despite that unexplained omission, Bivins, who was only 1.75 m (5 ft...

boxing sport, both amateur and professional, involving attack and defense with the fists. Boxers usually wear padded gloves and generally observe the code set forth in the marquess of Queensberry rules. Matched in weight and ability, boxing contestants try... Braddock, James J. American world heavyweight boxing champion from June 13, 1935, when he outpointed Max Baer in 15 rounds at the Long Island City Bowl in New York City, until June 22, 1937, when he was knocked out by Joe Louis in Chicago. Braddock’s professional name... Broughton, Jack third heavyweight boxing champion of England, formulator of the first set of boxing rules, and inventor of mufflers, the precursors of modern boxing gloves. Originally a longshoreman, Broughton gained recognition as champion at an uncertain date after... Burke, James British bare-knuckle fighter who was the English heavyweight champion from 1833 to 1839. Burke, who was hearing impaired from infancy, worked on the River Thames as a waterman before beginning his boxing career. He began fighting professionally in 1828....

Burns, Tommy Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion from February 23, 1906, when he won a 20-round decision over Marvin Hart in Los Angeles, until December 26, 1908, when he lost to Jack Johnson in 14 rounds in Sydney, Australia. This victory made Johnson the... Calzaghe, Joe Welsh professional boxer. At the start of the 21st century, he ranked as the longest-reigning champion in professional boxing history, with an undefeated record in both the super middleweight and light heavyweight categories. Calzaghe grew up in Wales,... Camacho, Hector Puerto Rican boxer who was a flamboyant fighter who relied on his footwork, hand speed, and rapid-fire counterpunching to rack up titles (some of them sanctioned by little-regarded organizations) in five weight classes—super featherweight, lightweight,... Canzoneri, Tony American professional boxer who held world championships in the featherweight, lightweight, and junior-welterweight divisions. Canzoneri weighed only 95 pounds (43 kg) when he began his amateur boxing career. After turning pro in 1925, he won the National...

Carnera, Primo Italian heavyweight boxing champion of the world from June 29, 1933, when he knocked out Jack Sharkey in six rounds in New York City, until June 14, 1934, when he was knocked out by Max Baer in 11 rounds, also in New York City. Originally a circus strongman,... Carpentier, Georges French boxer who was world light-heavyweight champion (1920–22) and a European champion at four weight classes. Carpentier’s victories over British opponents—Joe Beckett, “Bombardier” Billy Wells, and Ted (“Kid”) Lewis—made him a national hero in France.... Caunt, Benjamin British bare-knuckle prizefighter, one of the first to aspire to a world championship in addition to national honours. Caunt held the English heavyweight championship from 1838 to 1845, losing the title briefly in 1841 to Nick Ward. Caunt claimed the... Cerdan, Marcel French-Algerian professional boxer and world middleweight champion.

Cerdan began his professional career in 1934, all of his early bouts being fought in North Africa. He made his European debut in 1937 and won the French welterweight title in 1938 and... Charles, Ezzard American world heavyweight boxing champion from September 27, 1950, when he outpointed Joe Louis in 15 rounds in New York City, to July 18, 1951, when he was knocked out by Jersey Joe Walcott in 7 rounds in Pittsburgh. Ezzard won several amateur championships,... Chávez, Julio César Mexican professional boxer and world lightweight champion, for many years one of Mexico’s most popular sports figures. Chávez began boxing at a young age; he had older brothers in boxing who took him to the gym where he first learned his craft. He began... Chocolate, Kid Cuban professional boxer, world junior lightweight (130 pounds) champion from 1931 to 1933. Kid Chocolate officially turned professional in 1927 after winning all 100 of his recorded amateur bouts in Cuba, 86 by knockout; however, some boxing historians...

Chuvalo, George Canadian professional boxer and heavyweight champion of Canada. Chuvalo’s forte was the knockout punch, and he used it to record 64 of his 73 victories in a 93-bout career that began in 1956 and continued through 1973. He held the Canadian heavyweight... Conn, Billy ("BILLY"; "THE PITTSBURGH KID"), U.S. boxer who was on the brink of defeating Joe Louis for the heavyweight championship title by outpointing him when he brashly decided to knock out the champion but instead was knocked out by Louis with two seconds... Cooper, Sir Henry British boxer who held both the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles for more than 12 years (1959–71) and the European title for 3 years (1968–71), but he was most remembered for his brutal losses to Muhammad Ali (originally Cassius Clay) in 1963... Corbett, James J. American world heavyweight boxing champion from September 7, 1892, when he knocked out John L.

Sullivan in 21 rounds at New Orleans, until March 17, 1897, when he was knocked out by Robert Fitzsimmons in 14 rounds at Carson City, Nevada. Corbett was... Corrales, Diego American boxer who fighting mainly at the junior lightweight (130-lb) weight class, delivered ferocious punches and accrued a record of 40 wins (33 knockouts) and 5 losses after turning professional in 1996. He variously held the International Boxing... Coulon, Johnny American professional boxer and world bantamweight champion. Coulon began his boxing career in 1905. He won the American bantamweight title in 1908 and in a March 6, 1910, match for the vacated world bantamweight championship knocked out Jim Kendrick... Cribb, Tom English bare-knuckle champion from 1809 to 1822 and one of the most popular and respected boxers of the English prize ring. A former coal porter and sailor, Cribb began his boxing career in 1805.

Although counted as a British and not a world titleholder,... Dempsey, Jack American world heavyweight boxing champion, regarded by many as the apotheosis of the professional fighter. He held the title from July 4, 1919, when he knocked out Jess Willard in three rounds in Toledo, Ohio, until Sept. 23, 1926, when he lost a 10-round... Dempsey, Nonpareil Jack Irish-born American bare-knuckle fighter who was the world middleweight champion from 1884 to 1891. Dempsey, who moved to the United States as a young child, was a proficient wrestler before he began his career as a boxer. For his first fight he gave... Dixon, George Canadian-born American boxer, the first black to win a world boxing championship. He is considered one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions (present weight limits 118 pounds and 126 pounds, respectively).... Dorgan, Thomas Aloysius American journalist, boxing authority, and cartoonist credited with inventing a variety of colourful American slang expressions.

At an early age Dorgan became a cartoonist and comic artist for the San Francisco Bulletin. In 1902 he moved to William Randolph... Dundee, Angelo American professional boxing trainer and manager, brother of boxing promoter Chris Dundee. Dundee learned boxing by studying the techniques of world-renowned trainers at Stillman’s Gym in New York City. The first world champion Dundee trained was Carmen... Dundee, Chris American fight promoter who was responsible for the rise of Miami Beach, Fla., as a boxing centre; the eight world championship fights he promoted during his six-decade-long career included the world heavyweight bout in which Cassius Clay (now Muhammad... Dunphy, Don American radio and television sports announcer known especially as the voice of boxing; during his 50-year career he broadcast more than 2,000 fights, 200 of which were title matches, including 50 heavyweight championships, and also appeared as a boxing... Durán, Roberto Panamanian professional boxer who was world lightweight, welterweight, junior-middleweight, and middleweight champion.

Durán began his professional career on March 8, 1967, and won the first 32 matches of his career, 26 by knockout, before losing for... Eagan, Eddie American boxer and bobsledder who was the only athlete to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. After their father died in a railroad accident when Eddie was only a year old, he and his four brothers were raised by their mother, who... Egan, Pierce, the Elder sporting writer whose works were considered indispensable reading for English men-about-town in the early 19th century. Egan made his reputation as a boxing reporter. His best-known work is Boxiana (1818–24), a racy but accurate account of the lives... Figg, James first recognized bare-knuckle boxing champion of England. Also an expert at wrestling, swordplay, and fighting with cudgels, he became prominent as a pugilist about 1719. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 185 pounds, Figg was a stalwart figure who was... Fighting Harada Japanese professional boxer, world flyweight and bantamweight champion.

Harada is considered by many to be Japan’s greatest boxer. He started fighting professionally in 1960 and won his first 25 matches. Harada suffered his first professional loss in... Firpo, Luis Angel Argentine professional boxer. Firpo moved to the United States in 1922 after having compiled an outstanding record during the first three years of his career in South America. He won his first 10 American matches by knockout before being involved in... Fitzsimmons, Robert British-born boxer, the first fighter to hold the world boxing championship in three weight divisions. A New Zealand resident as a young man, Fitzsimmons went to the United States in 1890, having already established a reputation as a fighter. He won... Fleischer, Nat American sports journalist who was an outstanding authority on boxing. Fleischer, a sportswriter for the New York Press, was encouraged by the promoter Tex Rickard to found the authoritative monthly magazine The Ring, the first issue of which appeared... Foreman, George American boxer who twice was the world heavyweight champion (1973–74, 1994–95).

When Foreman regained the heavyweight title at age 45, he was the oldest world heavyweight champion. Foreman grew up in Houston, Texas, and learned to box in a U.S. Job Corps... Forrest, Vernon American boxer who held three world titles during his 17-year professional career (1992–2009)—the International Boxing Federation welterweight (2001), the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight (2002–03), and the WBC junior middleweight (2007–09, except... Frazier, Joe American world heavyweight boxing champion from February 16, 1970, when he knocked out Jimmy Ellis in five rounds in New York City, until January 22, 1973, when he was beaten by George Foreman at Kingston, Jamaica. During Frazier’s amateur career he... Futch, Edward American boxing trainer who was dubbed “the professor of pugilism” for the sharp observation, compassion, and determination that he used to coach more than 20 world champions, including heavyweights Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes,...

Galaxy, Khaosai Thai professional boxer, world junior bantamweight (115 pounds) champion from 1984 to 1991. Galaxy is considered Thailand’s greatest boxer. Galaxy began his professional boxing career in 1980. He defeated Eusebio Espinal of the Dominican Republic for... Galíndez, Víctor Argentine boxer who held the title of light-heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Association from 1974 to 1978 and again in 1979. After defeating the American Len Hutchins in 1974 and gaining the title of light-heavyweight champion, Galíndez defended... Gans, Joe American professional boxer, known as the Old Master, who was perhaps the greatest fighter in the history of the lightweight division. Because he was black, he was compelled by boxing promoters to permit less-talented white fighters to last the scheduled...

Gatti, Arturo Italian-born Canadian boxer who held two world titles during his 16-year professional career (1991–2007)—the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight (junior lightweight; 1995–97) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior welterweight... Giardello, Joey American boxer who as undisputed world middleweight champion (1963–65), defended his title with a win by unanimous decision on Dec. 14, 1964, against Rubin (“Hurricane”) Carter and later sued the makers of the film The Hurricane (1999) because of its... Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition initiated by Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. First sponsored by the Tribune in 1926, annual tournaments were held between Chicago and New York teams from 1927. The New York organizer was Paul Gallico of the... Graziano, Rocky American boxer and world middleweight champion (1947–48). In his youth Graziano was close friends with future fighter Jake La Motta, and both troubled youths attended the same juvenile reform school.

Graziano was drafted during World War II, but he later... Greb, Harry American professional boxer who was one of the cleverest and most colourful performers in the ring. His ring name refers to his nonstop punching style of boxing. Greb trained very little and was legendary for his carousing and womanizing before fights.... Griffith, Emile professional American boxer who won five world boxing championships—three times as a welterweight and twice as a middleweight. Griffith came to the United States as a teenager and was encouraged to become a boxer by his employer, the owner of a hat factory.... Gully, John prizefighter, racehorse fancier, and politician, a major personage of the 19th-century British sporting world. In 1805, having failed as a butcher, Gully was in prison for his debts when he was visited by his pugilist friend Henry Pearce, “the Game Chicken.”... Gushiken Yoko Japanese professional boxer, World Boxing Association (WBA) junior flyweight world champion. After a promising amateur career, Gushiken turned professional in 1974. He won the first eight bouts of his pro career, knocking out five of his opponents.

This... Hagler, Marvin American boxer, a durable middleweight champion, who was one of the greatest fighters of the 1970s and ’80s. Hagler began his boxing career in Brockton, Massachusetts, winning 57 amateur fights and the 1973 Amateur Athletic Union middleweight title before... Halimi, Alphonse Algerian-born boxer who held the world bantamweight title twice, 1957–59 and 1960–61. He was born into a poor Jewish family but was adopted by a tailor in Algiers and trained as his apprentice. Halimi’s talents in the ring brought him three French amateur... Hart, Marvin American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from July 3, 1905, to February 23, 1906. Hart’s claim to the championship has not been universally accepted, although that of Tommy Burns, who defeated Hart in a title match, is not seriously challenged.... Hearns, Thomas American boxer who became, in 1987, the first person to win world titles in four weight divisions.

Renowned as a devastating puncher (rather than as a boxer who relied on textbook technique), Hearns ultimately won world titles in five weight classes... Heenan, John C. American heavyweight champion (i.e., of the United States and Canada) under the London Prize Ring, or bare-knuckle, rules. He fought Tom Sayers for the world championship in a famous bout. On October 20, 1858, at Long Point, Ontario, Canada, in a match... Holmes, Larry American heavyweight boxing champion of the late 1970s and early ’80s who was known for his solid defense. Holmes, a street fighter in his youth, entered organized boxing at a youth centre in Easton, Pennsylvania. He won 19 of his 22 fights and several... Holyfield, Evander American boxer, the only professional fighter to win the heavyweight championship four separate times and thereby surpass the record of Muhammad Ali, who won it three times. As an amateur boxer, Holyfield compiled a record of 160–14 and won the national...

Hopkins, Bernard American boxer who dominated the middleweight division in the early 2000s with a combination of speed and precision that earned him the nickname “The Executioner.” Hopkins was involved in street crime as a teenager, and at age 17 he was convicted of... Jackson, John English bare-knuckle boxer who was influential in securing acceptance of prizefighting as a legitimate sport in England. Jackson was an amateur boxer of some repute, but he appeared in only three public matches. The third match, on April 15, 1795, against... Jackson, Peter an outstanding professional boxer. A victim of racial discrimination (Jackson was black), he was denied a chance to fight for the world heavyweight championship while in his prime. Jackson won the Australian heavyweight championship in 1886 and the British... Jeffries, James Jackson American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from June 9, 1899, when he knocked out Bob Fitzsimmons in 11 rounds at Coney Island, New York City, until 1905, when he retired undefeated. Among his six successful title defenses were two knockouts...

Jofre, Eder Brazilian professional boxer, world bantamweight and featherweight champion. Jofre’s family owned a boxing gym in São Paulo, Brazil, and he began a career as an amateur fighter at an early age. He embarked on his professional boxing career in 1957 after... Johansson, Ingemar Swedish-born world heavyweight boxing champion. While an amateur boxer, Johansson was a member of the European Golden Gloves team in 1951. He was a member of the Swedish team at the Olympic Games in 1952 but was disqualified in his semifinal round against... Johnson, Jack first black boxer to win the heavyweight championship of the world. Johnson is considered by many boxing observers to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Johnson fought professionally from 1897 to 1928 and engaged in exhibition matches as... Jones, Roy, Jr. American boxer who became only the second light heavyweight champion to win a heavyweight title. For several years beginning in the late 1990s, he was widely considered the best boxer of his generation. Jones was taught to box by his father, Roy Jones,...

Ketchel, Stanley American professional boxer, considered by some boxing historians to be the greatest fighter in the history of the middleweight division. Upon the death of his parents, Ketchel left Michigan and began riding boxcars to the west. He settled in Butte,... Kid Gavilan Cuban professional boxer and world welterweight champion who was known for his “ bolo punch,” a combination of a hook and an uppercut. Gavilan said that cutting sugarcane during his youth in Cuba helped him to perfect his punching technique. He was a... King, Don American boxing promoter known for his flamboyant manner and outrageous hair styled to stand straight up. He first came to prominence with his promotion of the 1974 “ Rumble in the Jungle ” bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire... Klitschko, Vitali Ukrainian boxer and politician whose colossal size (6 feet 7 inches [2.0 metres] tall and over 240 pounds [109 kg]) helped propel him to great boxing success, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) world heavyweight title. Klitschko excelled at kickboxing...

Klitschko, Wladimir Ukrainian boxer whose success in the heavyweight division—in part because of his prodigious size (6 feet 6 inches [1.98 metres] tall and over 240 pounds [109 kg])—included International Boxing Federation (IBF), International Boxing Organization (IBO),... La Motta, Jake American boxer and world middleweight boxing champion (1949–51) whose stamina and fierceness in the ring earned him the nickname “the Bronx Bull.” Lacking finesse, he often allowed himself to take a severe beating before ferociously turning on his foe.... Lagutin, Boris Nikolayevich Soviet boxer who won medals in three consecutive Olympic Games, including gold medals in 1964 and 1968. Fighting as a light middleweight (156 pounds [71 kg]), Lagutin was awarded a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome after losing a split decision...

Leonard, Benny American world lightweight (135-lb [61.2-kg]) boxing champion from May 28, 1917, when he knocked out Freddy Welsh in nine rounds in New York City, until Jan. 15, 1925, when he retired. He is regarded as one of the cleverest defensive boxers in the history... Leonard, Sugar Ray American boxer, known for his agility and finesse, who won 36 of 40 professional matches and several national titles. As an amateur, he took an Olympic gold medal in the light-welterweight class at the 1976 Games in Montreal. By his mid-teens Leonard... Lewis, Lennox first British boxer to hold the undisputed heavyweight world championship since Bob Fitzsimmons held the title in 1899. Lewis was born to Jamaican parents, spent his early childhood in England, and then moved with his mother to Canada. An all-around...

Liston, Sonny American boxer who was world heavyweight boxing champion from September 25, 1962, when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round in Chicago, until February 25, 1964, when he stopped fighting Cassius Clay (afterward Muhammad Ali) before the seventh... London Prize Ring rules set of rules governing bareknuckle boxing, which were adopted in 1838 and revised in 1853. They superseded those drawn up by Jack Broughton, known as the father of English boxing, in 1743. Under the London rules, bouts were held in a 24-ft (7.3-m) square... Lonsdale Belt British boxing award originated in 1909 by Lord Lonsdale, president of the National Sporting Club. The first belt went to a lightweight, Freddie Welsh. A belt was originally given to the champion in each division and was passed on as the title changed... Louis, Joe American boxer who was world heavyweight champion from June 22, 1937, when he knocked out James J.

Braddock in eight rounds in Chicago, until March 1, 1949, when he briefly retired. During his reign, the longest in the history of any weight division,... Mace, James professional boxer and English heavyweight champion who is considered by some authorities to have been world champion. He was the first fighter of consequence to show interest in the Marquess of Queensberry rules. Traveling as a youth with a show booth... Mallin, Harry British boxer, the first man to successfully defend an Olympic boxing title. Mallin was one of the dominant middleweight fighters of his generation. In addition to his Olympic triumphs, he won five British amateur titles and was undefeated in over 300... Marciano, Rocky world heavyweight boxing champion from Sept. 23, 1952, when he knocked out champion Jersey Joe Walcott in 13 rounds in Philadelphia, to April 27, 1956, when he retired from the ring. Marciano was undefeated in 49 professional fights, scoring 43 knockouts.... Marquess of Queensberry rules code of rules that most directly influenced modern boxing.

Written by John Graham Chambers, a member of the British Amateur Athletic Club, the rules were first published in 1867 under the sponsorship of John Sholto Douglas, ninth marquess of Queensberry,... Maxim, Joey American boxer who was the world light heavyweight champion from 1950 to 1952. On Jan. 24, 1950, Maxim knocked out heavily favoured Englishman Freddie Mills in London to win the world light heavyweight title. In one of the most memorable boxing matches... Mayweather, Floyd, Jr. American boxer whose combination of speed, power, and technical prowess made him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of his generation. Mayweather earned the nickname “Pretty Boy” during his amateur career because of his unmarked face. He won the... McCoy, Kid American professional boxer whose trickery and cruelty in the ring made him an infamous figure in boxing history. A former sparring partner of welterweight champion Tommy Ryan, McCoy pleaded with Ryan for a title match as a benefit for himself, asserting...

McGovern, Terry American professional boxer, world bantamweight (118 pounds) champion, 1899–1900, and featherweight (126 pounds) champion, 1900–01. Two years after starting his professional boxing career at age 17, McGovern won the vacant world bantamweight championship... Mendoza, Daniel bareknuckle pugilist, 16th in the succession of English heavyweight champions and the first Jewish champion. He was the first important fighter to combine scientific boxing with rapid, rather than hard, punching—a great change from the mauling style... World Heavyweight Boxing Champions World Heavyweight Boxing Champions This is a list of major heavyweight title changes which includes undisputed titles, WBA, WBC, & IBF Title changes John L. Sullivan is last bare-knuckle champion;first champion under the Marquees of Queensbury Rules - using boxing gloves 1882 James J. Corbett def. John L. Sullivan KO-21 8-9-1892 in New Orleans, LA Bob Fitzsimmons def. James J.

Corbett KO-14 3-17-1897 in Carsen City, NV James J. Jeffries def. Bob Fitzsimmons KO-11 6-9-1899 in Coney Island, NY....Jeffries announced his retirement 5-13-1905 the title was declared vacant Marvin Hart def. Jack Root TKO-12 7-3-1905 in Reno, NV...Referee James J. Jeffries awards the vacant title to Hart Tommy Burns def. Marvin Hart W-20 2-23-1906 ref.decision in Los Angeles, CA Jack Johnson def. Tommy Burns TKO-14 12-26-1908 in Sydney, Australia...fight was actually halted by the police..Johnson is first black champion Jess Willard def. Jack Johnson KO-26 4-15-1915 in Havana, Cuba Jack Dempsey def. Jess Willard TKO-3 7-4-1919 in Toledo, OH Gene Tunney def.

Jack Dempsey unanimous decision 9-23-1926 in Philadelphia, PA...Tunney announced his retirement, the title was declared vacant 7-31-28 Max Schmeling def. Jack Sharkey for vacant title W-4 via foul 6-12-1930 in New York, NY Jack Sharkey def. Max Schmeling via split-decision 6-21-1932 in Long Island, NY Primo Carnera def. Jack Sharkey KO-6 in Long Island, NY Max Baer def. Primo Carnera TKO-11 6-14-1934 in Long Island, NY James J. Braddock def. Max Baer via unanimous decision 6-13-1935 unanimous decision in Long Island, NY Joe Louis def. James J. Braddock KO-8 6-2-1937 in Chicago,IL...Louis announced his retirement, the title was declared vacant 3-1-1949 Ezzard Charles def.

Jersey Joe Walcott for vacant title via unanimous decision 6-22-1949 in Chicago,IL Jersey Joe Walcott def. Ezzard Charles KO-7 7-18-1951 in Pittsburgh, PA Rocky Marciano def. Jersey Joe Walcott KO-13 9-23-1952 in Philadelphia, PA.....Marciano retired as the only undefeated champion with a perfect record of 49-0, the title was declared vacant 4-27-1956 Floyd Patterson def. Archie Moore for vacant title KO-5 11-30-1956 in Chicago, IL Ingemar Johansson def. Floyd Patterson TKO-3 6-26-1959 in New York, NY Floyd Patterson (2)def. Ingemar Johansson KO-5 6-20-1960 in New York, NY...Patterson became the first Heavweight champion to re-gain the title Sonny Liston def. Floyd Patterson KO-1 9-25-1962 in Chicago, IL Cassius Clay def.

Sonny Liston TKO-6 2-25-1964 Miami,FL...Clay announced he would henceforth be known as Muhammed Ali The World Boxing Association(WBA) stripped Ali of the title for signing for a return bout with Liston, all other boxing commissions still considered Ali to be the champion. The WBA declared their title to be vacant 9-14-1964 Ernie Terrell def. Eddie Machen for the vacant WBA title via unanimous decision 3-5-1965 Chicago, IL Muhammed Ali def. Ernie Terrell for the unified and undisputed title via unanimous decision 2-6-1967 Houston, TX Muhammed Ali was stripped of the title by all boxing commissions for refusing to be inducted into the US Army. During legal battles, Ali was banned from boxing by the WBA and New York State Athletic Commission(NYSAC) 5-9-1967 Joe Frazier def. Buster Mathis for the vacant NYSAC title TKO-11 3-4-1968 New York, NY Jimmy Ellis def.

Jerry Quarry for the vacant WBA title via unanimous decision 4-27-1968 Oakland, CA Joe Frazier def. Jimmy Ellis for the unified and undisputed title TKO-4 2-16-1970 New York, NY George Foreman def. Joe Frazier TKO-2 1-22-1973 Kingston, Jamaica Muhammed Ali def. (2)George Foreman KO-8 10-30-1974 Kinshasa, Zaire...Ali won the title for the second time Leon Spinks def.Muhammed Ali via split decision 2-15-1978 Las Vegas, NV Spinks was stripped of the title by the World Boxing Council(WBC) for signing for a rematch with Ali instead of defending the title against the No.

1 ranked WBC contender, Ken Norton 3-18-1978 Ken Norton was named the WBC champion 3-29-1978 on the basis of his victory over Jimmy Young (15 round split decision win on points) in Las Vegas on 11/5/77 in a WBC title elimination fight Larry Holmes def. Ken Norton via split decision for the WBC title 6-10-1978 Las Vegas, NV Muhammed Ali (3)def. Leon Spinks via unanimous decision for WBA title 9-15-1978 New Orleans, LA...Ali became the first three-time Heavyweight champion Ali announced his retirement, the WBA title was declared vacant 9-6-1979 John Tate def. Gerrie Coetzee for vacant WBA title via unanimous decision 10-20-1979 Pretoria, South Africa Mike Weaver def. John Tate for WBA title KO-15 3-31-1980 Knoxville, TN Michael Dokes def.

Mike Weaver for WBA title TKO-1 12-10-1982 Las Vegas, NV Gerrie Coetzee def. Michael Dokes for WBA title KO-10 9-23-1983 Richfield, OH 12-11-1983 Larry Holmes relinquished the WBC title in a dispute and accepted championship recognition from the newly formed International Boxing Federation(IBF). The WBC title was declared vacant Tim Witherspoon def. Greg Page for vacant WBC title via majority decision 3-9-1984 Las Vegas, NV Pinklon Thomas def. Tim Witherspoon for WBC title via majority decision 8-31-1984 Las Vegas, NV Greg Page def. Gerrie Coetzee for WBA title K0-8 12-1-1984 Sun City, Boph�swana Tony Tubbs def. Greg Page for WBA title via unanimous decision 4-29-1985 Buffalo, NY Michael Spinks def.

Larry Holmes for IBF title via unanimous decision 9-21-1985 Las Vegas, NV...Spinks became the first reigning Light-heavyweight champion to win the Heavyweight title Tim Witherspoon def. Tony Tubbs for WBA title via majority decision 1-17-1986 Atlanta, GA...Witherspoon became a two-time champion Trevor Berbick def. Pinklon Thomas for WBC title via unanimous decision 3-22-1986 Las Vegas, NV Mike Tyson def. Trevor Berbick for WBC title TKO-2 11-22-1986 Las Vegas, NV James "Bonecrusher" Smith def. Tim Witherspoon for WBA title TKO-1 12-12-1986 New York, NY 2-26-1987 Michael Spinks was stripped of the IBF title for signing to fight Gerry Cooney instead of No. 1 ranked IBF contender, Tony Tucker. The IBF title was declared vacant Mike Tyson def.

James "Bonecrusher" Smith via unanimous decision 3-7-1987 Las Vegas, NV...Tyson defended his WBC title and won Smith�s WBA title Tony Tucker def. James "Buster" Douglas for vacant IBF title TKO-10 5-30-1987 Las Vegas, NV Mike Tyson def. Tony Tucker via unanimous decision 8-1-1987 Las Vegas, NV...Tyson defended his WBC & WBA titles and won Tucker�s IBF title to unifiy the Heavyweight title for the first time since Muhammed Ali in 1978 James "Buster" Douglas def. Mike Tyson for the unified and undisputed title KO-10 2-11-1990 Tokyo, Japan Evander Holyfield def. James "Buster" Douglas for the unified and undisputed title KO-3 10-25-1990 Las Vegas, NV Riddick Bowe def.

Evander Holyfield for the unified and undisputed title via unanimous decision 11-14-1992 Las Vegas, NV 12-14-1992 Riddick Bowe relinquished the WBC title in a dispute rather than defend against No. 1 ranked WBC contender, Lennox Lewis, who was awarded the WBC title retrospectively on the basis of his 2nd-round TKO of Razor Ruddock in London on 10/31/92 in a WBC title elimination fight Evander Holyfield def. Riddick Bowe for the WBA & IBF titles via majority decision 11-6-1993 Las Vegas, NV...Holyfield became a two-time champion Michael Moorer def. Evander Holyfield for the WBA & IBF titles via majority decision 4-24-1994 Las Vegas, NV Oliver McCall def.Lennox Lewis for the WBC title TKO-2 9-24-1994 London, England George Foreman def.

Michael Moorer for the WBA & IBF titles KO-10 11-5-1994 Las Vegas, NV...Foreman became a two-time champion 3-4-1995 The WBA strips George Foreman of title for failing to fight No. 1 ranked WBA contender, Tony Tucker. The WBA title was declared vacant Bruce Seldon def. Tony Tucker for vacant WBA title TKO-7 4-8-1995 Atlantic City, NJ 6-29-1995 George Foreman vacated the IBF title and accepted recognition as the WBU champion rather than fight a rematch with Axel Schulz in Germany. Foreman beat Schulz on a controversial decision in his last IBF title defense. The IBF title was declared vacant Frank Bruno def. Oliver McCall for the WBC title via unanimous decision 9-2-1995 London, England Francois Botha def. Axel Shultz for vacant IBF title via majority decision 12-9-1995 Suttgart, Germany...Botha was later disqualified on 2/24/96 by the IBF for failing a post-fight drug test.

The IBF stated Axel Schulz would fight the No. 1 ranked IBF contender, Michael Moorer for the IBF title Mike Tyson def. Frank Bruno for the WBC title TKO-3 3-15-1996 Las Vegas, NV...Tyson became a two-time champion Michael Moorer def. Axel Shultz for vacant IBF title via majority decision 6-22-1996 Dortmund, Germany...Moorer became a two-time champion Mike Tyson def. Bruce Seldon KO-1 8-7-1996 for Seldon�s WBA title, the WBC did not sanction the fight as a title fight, even though Tyson was the WBC champion Las Vegas, NV 9-24-1996 Tyson relinquished the WBC title in a dispute over whether he should have fought the WBC�s No. 1 contender, Lennox Lewis instead of trying to unify the title with Seldon. The WBC declared the title vacant Evander Holyfield def. Mike Tyson for the WBA title TKO-9 11-9-1996 Las Vegas, NV...Holfield became a three-time champion Lennox Lewis def.

Oliver McCall for vacant WBC title TKO-5 2-7-1997 Las Vegas, NV...Lewis became a two-time champion Evander Holyfield def. Michael Moorer TKO-9 11-8-1997 Las Vegas, NV...Holyfield defended his WBA title and won Moorer�s IBF title Lennox Lewis def. Evander Holyfield via unanimous decision 11-13-1999 New York, NY...Lewis defended his WBC title and won Holyfield's WBA & IBF titles, becoming the first unified and undisputed champion since Riddick Bowe held that distinction in 1992 4-29-2000 Lewis was stripped of the WBA title for breeching a contract to meet the WBA's No. 1 contender, before his next scheduled bout with Michael Grant to defend the WBC and IBF titles. The WBA declared the title vacant Evander Holyfield def. John Ruiz for vacant WBA title via majority decision 8-12-2000 Las Vegas, NV...Holyfield became a four-time champion John Ruiz def.

Evander Holyfield for WBA title via unanimous decision 3-3-2001 Las Vegas, NV Hasim Rahman def. Lennox Lewis for the WBC and IBF titles KO-5 4-21-2001 Carnival City, South Africa Lennox Lewis def. Hasim Rahman for the WBC and IBF titles KO-4 11-17-2001 Las Vegas, NV...Lewis became a three-time champion 9-5-2002 Lewis vacates IBF Title rather than fight mandatory IBF title match against Chris Byrd Chris Byrd def. Evander Holyfield W-12 unanimous decision for vacant IBF Title 12-14-2002 in Atlantic City, NJ Roy Jones Jr. def. John Ruiz for WBA Title W-12 unanimous decision 3-1-2003 in Las Vegas, NV....Jones vacates title 11-8-03 to fight for WBC Light Heavyweight Championship...WBA awards WBA Title to John Ruiz 2-6-2004 Lennox Lewis announces his retirement and vacates WBC Title Vitali Klitschko def.

Corrie Sanders TKO-8 for vacant WBC Title 4-24-04 in Los Angeles, CA James Toney def. John Ruiz W-12 unanmous 4-30-05 in New York, NY....however after post fight physical a banned substance was found in Toney's stystem and a results were changed to a no contest on May 10, 2005..a week later John Ruiz was reinstated as WBA Champion Vitali Klitschko announced is retirement due to a knee injury November 9, 2005 and vacates the WBC Title Hashim Rahman is declared the new WBC Champion on November 10, 2005 as he was the number one contender and was scheduled to fight Klitschko...Rahman is a two time champion Nikolay Valuev def John Ruiz for WBA Title W-12 majority decision 12-17-05 in Berlin, Germany Wladimir Klitschko def. Chris Byrd for IBF Title TKO-7 4-22-06 in Mannheim, Germany Oleg Maskaev def.

Hasim Rahman for WBC Title 8-13-06 TKO-8 in Las Vegas,NV Ruslan Chagaev def.Nikolay Valuev for WBA Title 4-14-07 W-12 majority decision in Stuttgart, Germany Samuel Peter def. Oleg Maskaev for WBC Title 3-6-08 TKO 6 in Cancun, Mexico Obituary: Floyd Patterson | US news | The Guardian Floyd Patterson Thursday 11 May 2006 21.39 EDT First published on Thursday 11 May 2006 21.39 EDT Share on Messenger Close Floyd Patterson, who has died aged 71, following Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer, not only became the youngest world heavyweight champion at 21; he also became the first fighter to regain the title by knocking out Sweden's Ingemar Johansson in the second of their three fights in 1960. He was also the first Olympic champion to go on and win boxing's richest prize. Yet Patterson does not rank among the heavyweight greats, and his build seemed ill-suited to the division.

Standing just 6ft and weighing a mere 13st 8lbs, his short reach of 71 inches and stubby arms forced him to develop the unorthodox method of springing towards his opponents in order to land his blows. This high-risk strategy always left him open to counter-shots, and in his seven world title bouts he visited the canvas 16 times - most famously when Johannson floored him on seven occasions during the first of their trilogy of fights in 1959. Patterson's modest size proved an insurmountable handicap against a rampaging Sonny Liston, who ended his world title reign by twice battering him to first-round defeats in 1962-63. "When you're knocked down with a good shot you don't feel pain," Patterson once told the Guardian journalist Frank Keating. "Maybe it's like taking dope. It's like floating.

You feel you love everybody - like a hippie I guess." Despite this vulnerability, Patterson was, nevertheless, a thinking boxer of considerable speed and athleticism, who made the most of his attributes and - until he ran into Liston - benefited hugely from the protection afforded by his caring manager Cus D'Amato, who would take the teenage Mike Tyson under his wing a quarter-of-a-century later. Judicious matchmaking saw Patterson build up an impressive winning streak, in much the same way as some of the over-protected champions of today. After winning the world title with a fifth-round knockout of the 43-year-old Archie Moore, in Chicago on November 30 1956, Patterson was fed a series of mediocre contenders, such as Pete Rademacher, Roy Harris and Britain's Brian London, all of whom he beat with ease. "I say this now without shame," said Patterson in the run-up to his fight with Rademacher, an Olympic champion having his first paid bout.

"Line up a dozen amateurs and guarantee me $250,000 for fighting each one and I'll take them on one after another." One of 11 children born into poverty in Waco, North Carolina, Patterson was an insular and troubled child, who became a persistent truant and petty thief. At 10 he was sent to a New York reform school, where he discovered boxing. "I disliked school and ran away from home a lot," he remembered. "I spent most of my time hiding in subway tunnels." He rapidly developed into a gifted amateur boxer and won the Golden Gloves title in 1951-52 before capturing the Olympic middleweight title at Helsinki in 1952. Turning professional immediately, he lost just one of his first 36 contests - a narrow points defeat against the fading Joey Maxim - and, much to the anger of some fight followers, who felt he had not earned the right, secured a showdown with the veteran Moore for the title left vacant by Rocky Marciano's retirement. Despite the 22-year age difference, Moore was favoured to win, yet it was his youthful adversary who emerged victorious with a fifth-round knockout.

Having beaten Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson in a rematch, Patterson duly saw off Rademacher, Harris and London, whose 11th-round defeat at Indianapolis on May 1 1959 led to a £2,000 fine by the British Boxing Board, which had opposed the match. Eight weeks later, Patterson was back in the ring for another seemingly routine defence against the unknown Johansson, whose smiling demeanour and playboy reputation suggested he would prove a mere pushover. Instead, Johansson, who as an amateur had been disqualified from the 1952 Olympic final for "not trying", pulled off a major upset at New York's Yankee stadium on June 26, 1959, halting a dazed Patterson in three rounds after decking him seven times. He was so humiliated that he refused to leave his house for a month and, when a rematch was announced, trained with demonic intensity in an old barn in an attempt to regain his hunger. "Losing a championship was bad enough," he reflected.

"Losing it to a foreigner was even worse." When the pair met again at New York's Polo Grounds on June 20 1960, a chastened American press tipped Johansson for victory, only for Patterson to even the score in spectacular fashion by knocking the champion cold with two big left hooks in round five - and become the first heavyweight champion to regain the belt. A third fight was inevitable, and when the two great rivals clashed once more at Miami Beach on March 13 1961, Patterson overcame two first-round knockdowns to score a sixth-round triumph. The champion made one more defence against the hopelessly outclassed Tom McNeeley before putting his crown on the line against the fearsome Liston at Chicago's Comiskey Park on September 25 1962. As a youngster, Patterson may have attended reform school, but his past bore no comparison with that of Liston, who had spent time in prison for armed robbery and assaulting a policeman. Liston, forced to wait a long time for his title shot, needed just 125 seconds to hammer Patterson into submission and end his five-year title reign.

Liston repeated the treatment in their rematch in Las Vegas on July 22 1963, which lasted just four seconds longer. Patterson, the exemplary role model, had been usurped by the ogre-like Liston, and many of the former convict's countrymen greeted his coronation with dismay. Patterson fought on, his thrilling clash with Canada's George Chuvalo the following year being judged 1965's fight of the year by Ring magazine. However, his attempt to wrest the heavyweight crown from the newly-crowned Muhammad Ali, in Las Vegas on November 22 1965, ended in a crushing 12th-round defeat. Proving he was still not finished, Patterson proceeded to knock out Britain's Henry Cooper at Wembley before suffering further defeats against fellow Americans Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis, the latter contest in Stockholm being for the World Boxing Association version of the title. Following a two-year lay-off, he pieced together a nine-fight winning streak, culminating in a rematch with Ali at New York's Madison Square Gardens on September 20 1972.

The fight, stopped in the seventh round due to Patterson's eye damage, proved his last, although he never officially announced his retirement. "I sort of just faded away," he recalled. He won 55 of his 64 fights, losing eight and drawing one. Patterson continued to be involved with sport, founded an amateur club and counselled children for the New York state office of children and family services. Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, he also served two terms as chairman of the New York state athletic commission. His second term, from 1995 to 1998, ended when it was revealed he was suffering from memory loss. He is survived by his wife Janet and his adopted son Tracy Harris Patterson, sometime WBC super bantamweight champion. · Floyd Patterson, boxer, born January 4 1935; died May 11 2006 Floyd Patterson is a former world heavyweight champion. Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American 2-time world heavyweight boxing champion.

At 21, Patterson was then the youngest man to win the world heavyweight championship and, later, the first to regain it. He had a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by knockout. He won the gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games as an amateur middleweight. Patterson carried his hands higher than most boxers, in front of his face. Sportswriters called Patterson’s style a “peek-a-boo” stance. After beating Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson in an elimination fight, Patterson faced light heavyweight champion Archie Moore on November 30, 1956, for the world heavyweight championship. He beat Moore by a knockout in five rounds, and became the youngest world heavyweight champion in history, at the age of 21 years and 10 months. He was the first Olympic gold medalist to win a professional heavyweight title. The fights against Liston Patterson lost his title to Liston on September 25, 1962 in Chicago, by a first-round knockout in front of 18,894 fans. The two fighters were a marked contrast.

In the ring, Liston’s size and power proved too much for Patterson’s guile and agility. However Patterson did not use his speed to his benefit. According to Sports Illustrated writer Gilbert Rogin, Patterson didn’t punch enough and frequently tried to clinch with Liston . Liston battered Patterson with body shots and then shortened up and connected with two double hooks high on the head. The result at the time was the third-fastest knockout in boxing history . After being knocked out, Patterson left Comiskey Park in Chicago wearing dark glasses and a fake beard for the drive back to New York. After the fight questions were raised on whether or not the fight was fixed to set up a more lucrative rematch. Overnight Patterson seemed to lose his public support as a result of his swift knockout. The rematch was set for April 1963, however Liston injured his knee swinging a golf club and the fight was delayed to July 22, 1963. In Las Vegas that night Patterson attempted to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times, but Liston once again knocked him out in the first round. Patterson lasted four seconds longer than in the first bout.

The fight against Ali On November 22, 1965, in yet another attempt to be the first to win the world’s heavyweight title three times, Patterson lost by technical knockout at the end of the 12th round, in a bout in which Ali was clearly dominant. Ali called Patterson an “Uncle Tom” for refusing to call him Muhammad Ali , (Patterson continued to call him Cassius Clay) and for this outspokenness against Black Muslims. Instead of scoring a quick knockout, Ali mocked, humiliated and punished Patterson throughout the fight. Last fight before retirement Patterson lost a controversial 12-round decision to Jerry Quarry in 1967. Subsequently, in a third and final attempt at winning the title a third time, Patterson lost a controversial 15-round referee’s decision to Jimmy Ellis in Sweden despite breaking Ellis’ nose and scoring a disputed knockdown. Patterson continued on, however, defeating Oscar Bonavena in a close fight over ten rounds in early 1972. However, a final defeat by Muhammad Ali in a rematch for the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title on September 20, 1972, convinced Patterson to retire at the age of 37.

Photos of Floyd Patterson Floyd Patterson

Question: Who became the youngest World Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1956?
Answer: Floyd Patterson